Ousted Official Sentenced In Misdemeanors

April 24, 1985|By Mary Anderson, Staff Writer

Suspended Pembroke Park commissioner Barney Koretsky was sentenced Tuesday to a year`s probation and the maximum $3,000 fine for six misdemeanor convictions of forgery and perjury stemming from petitions he circulated last year to recall political opponents from office.

Six weeks ago, a similar plea arrangement broke down over County Judge Dale Ross` misgivings that the offenses deserved jail time.

``I haven`t changed my opinion that jail is appropriate for the harm (Koretsky has) done to society, but I will honor the state`s recommendation,`` Ross said.

The judge accepted the no-contest plea to all charges Tuesday, heeding the recommendation of prosecutors that the 65-year-old not be incarcerated. He also agreed with prosecutors that Koretsky should be formally judged guilty of the six misdemeanors.

Three sets of companion forgery and perjury counts corresponded to three petitions Koretsky had circulated last year to recall Mayor Dottie Johnston, Vice Mayor J. Paige Caves and Commissioner Daniel Hoffman, who had ousted Koretsky as mayor in July 1983.

Ross opened his sentencing remarks by observing that Koretsky ``appears to be very nice,`` has an impeccable work record and no prior criminal history.

``Other than this particular circumstance, he`s been a productive member of society,`` the judge said.

But Ross had harsh words for Koretsky`s offenses, rejecting defense attorney Jerome Hall`s statements that Koretsky was ``the victim of the three perpetrators`` who wrongfully removed him from office.

Hall argued that Koretsky`s activism on behalf of mobile home owners ``may be one reason he is here now.``

Hall also argued that the allegedly forged name of Donaline L. Myers on each of the three recall petitions was ``totally inconsequential`` because the petitions carried far more names than the 100 required.

``That`s kind of like sticking up a 7-Eleven and offering to give back the money,`` Ross said.

Prosecutor John Jolly criticized defense statements that Koretsky`s political foes were the true perpetrators.

``I can assure the court the reason he (Koretsky) is here now is because he plays politics and cheats. He perpetually, throughout his conduct in this case, portrays his plea as some kind of magnanimous gesture . . . when he`s simply guilty of a crime and pleaded to it.``